WHITEMARSH — The Plymouth Whitemarsh High boys basketball season ended earlier last year than the Colonials had been accustomed to in recent times.

A five-point defeat at Council Rock North had PW wrapping up its year during the District One tournament for the first time in four years, missing the state playoffs for just the second time in nine seasons.

For head coach Jim Donofrio, however, he became encouraged about the upcoming basketball season on the very next day. With barely any time to let the pain of that 13-12 season dull, Donofrio found four returning players waiting in the locker room to get back out on the gym floor and immediately begin preparing for this season.

“This group of young guys have put more hours into just playing basketball, from April to November, than any group I can remember in recent memory,” said Donofrio, the Colonials opening their season at home Friday at 7:30 against Dobbins Tech in the second game of the Rock the Rim Classic. “These guys have been playing together so much.

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“All you want as a coach is to know your players have a passion for the game, and clearly these guys do.”

Last year was a disappointment for PW, which had gone to the state Final Four each of the previous three seasons, bringing home the program’s third state title in 2010. The 12 losses from a season ago was the most for the team since 1987.

This year, a lot is different – most notably only one starter is back in leading scorer Anthony McKie. Last year was McKie’s first at PW and he was trying to learn a new system. This year, he quickly has had to become one of the veterans.

“There’s definitely a big difference from last year,” said McKie, who averaged 17.9 points per game a year ago. “Last year, we had a lot of seniors who knew the program.

“We’re learning, there are a lot of new guys.”

Dee Bennett, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward, will join the 5-10 McKie as one of just two returning players with substantial varsity minutes from last year.

“He went through a lot last year,” Donofrio said of McKie, “but he has really worked on his game, really improved.

“He has really figured some things out and has a confidence about him this year.”

Last year, McKie set PW’s single-game scoring record by pouring in 47 points on Jan. 22 against Math, Civics & Science. PW is expected to start McKie and Bennett along with senior guard Michael Reddick and sophomore forward Chase Rodgers Friday, the fifth starter still undetermined.

“If they stay together and stay healthy, this could turn into something very interesting by February,” said Donofrio, who needs just four more wins to reach his 300th at the school. “I love their enthusiasm and their willingness to learn.”

Donofrio saw that from a Tuesday scrimmage against defending Class AAA state champion Neumann-Goretti. His young Colonials did not fare well in the beginning, but seemed to progress as the scrimmage continued.

“All that youth and inexperience going out there against one of the top teams in the country,” he said. “It was an eye-opener for them.

“I love what we got out of Neumann-Goretti (Tuesday). You can get a lot of mileage out of that.”

PW is one of those teams that opponents gear up for during the season, no matter the situation. The Colonials have enough banners hanging in their gym to make other teams want to knock them down a few pegs. Some teams got that chance last year, and PW is hoping they do not allow it to continue this winter.

“There’s always some pressure on us,” Bennett said. “We’re not trying to be a lazy, average team. But we’ve been together all summer long and I think we can keep getting better.”

“Last year,” McKie added, “we definitely felt the pressure of living up to it. We’re not really worried about living up to expectations. We’re just trying to work hard and be what we can be.”

This is something the current Colonials have been working hard at for quite some time. In fact, for some of them, it began last February — the day after last season ended.